In Blink: The Power Of Thinking Without Thinking, Malcolm
Gladwell explores the depths of human intuition and how anyone can
develop the ability to make quick, yet accurate decisions. These
decisions are termed as snap judgements in the book, and the author
makes a case for how snap judgements can be more efficient than reasoned
decisions, which require deliberation.

The author terms the instinctive side of our mind as the adaptive
unconscious. This is the part of the brain that we use for rapid
cognition, and for quickly picking out the finer details that matter
from among a host of variables.

Blink: The Power Of Thinking Without Thinking isn’t just about
the analysis of this phenomenon. Malcolm Gladwell reveals the secret
behind using the power of snap judgements in everyday life. He also
attempts to detail the different kinds of situations where these
decisions are a bad idea, such as the shooting of Amadou Diallo in 1999.

Another phenomenon that the author talks about is called thin slicing.
This is the ability to cut out a slice of relevant information from
amidst the chaos of information, which presents itself in the first
instant that a decision needs to be made. Through studies, he highlights
the truth behind whether experts make their best decisions based on
instinct or if information analysis still trumps the former.

Conclusions in this book are put forward through a diverse set of
examples. The power of intuition is attributed to specific events, like
when artists can tell if a historic artifact is fake within an instant,
or how a commander used World War II technology to out-maneuver the
collective strength of the US armed forces.

About Malcolm Gladwell

Malcolm Gladwell is a journalist, speaker and bestselling author whose
work explores academic findings on psychology, sociology and social
psychology. His other books include The Tipping Point: How Little Things Make a Big Difference, What The Dog Saw: And Other Adventures and David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants.

Malcolm Gladwell’s writing process revolves around the analysis,
interpretation and representation of valuable research. He has earned a
place in the minds of his readers as a credible source by shunning
personal opinion, and instead relying on research findings to tell the
story. As his work tends to rely on scientific research, one of his
greatest strengths is his ability to talk about scientific data in a way
that anyone can understand.

Malcolm Gladwell was born in Hampshire, England and from the age of 6
he has spent most of his life in Ontario, Canada, where his family
relocated. He was recognized for the second-highest form of honour for
merit in his country, by being appointed to the Order of Canada.